Halt! Drop That Chain Saw

Only in Florida

Florida has had lots of heroes. But none like Travis Swearengin. He is, and we quote the Lake City Reporter newspaper on this, ''The chain saw holdup hero.''

Here's his story: One day in February a woman walked into the Lake City Howard Johnson's lobby and demanded money. She pointed the business end of a chain saw at the desk clerk. Needless to say, the lady got her money.

Not content with money, the robber bopped the desk clerk on the head with the weapon, which luckily was not turned on.

Nearby, the desk clerk's brother heard the ''loud pop'' of the saw on his sister's head and went to investigate.

The brother, Travis Swearengin, 20, gave the following account of what happened next: ''I leaped a 5-foot wall and ran and grabbed her . . . and she swung the chainsaw and hit me in the wrist and elbow. I wrestled with her briefly and slung her against the wall. I jumped over and beat her pretty good.''

Swearengin says he then dragged the robber by the hair into the motel lobby, put his knee against the back of her head and pulled her arm around her back ''like the drug busts you see on television.

''When the cops got there, I took the cuffs from them and handcuffed her. I think I broke three of her fingers and fractured her wrists.''

Now, you might think the cops would show a little gratitude. After all, if Swearengin had not taken on the robber, she might have figured out how to start that chain saw before they arrived.

But Police Lt. David Allbritton of Lake City downplays Swearengin's actions, saying the hero ''flowered up'' his exploits.

''He says he jumped over a wall. All I know is he jumped over a counter.''

Allbritton says that officers handuffed the suspect. The woman's fingers were not broken. Nor her wrists. ''He wants to be the big hero. If he wants to take credit for breaking her hand, more power to him. It's a bunch of nonsense.''

We were not able to get in touch with Swearengin to defend his version. His sister, the desk clerk, says they aren't talking any more about the incident. But, hey, anybody who takes on a robber with a chain saw is a hero in our book, regardless of what the cops say.

By the way, we checked with the Florida De partment of Law Enforcement on the incidence of chain-saw robberies in Florida.

''I don't think we have a weapons category on chain saws,'' said a records keeper with FDLE, as she looked over the files. ''Let's see . . . handgun, shotgun, rifle, poison, explosives, hands-fist-or-feet, fire . . . no, we have no category specifically for chain saws. That must come under other.''

Says Lt. Allbritton: ''It's the first one I can remember. It probably would have been a lot better story if the chain saw was running, but we got to do the best we can do.''